Monday, February 23, 2015

This is a MUST READ!Instructions on how to win your very own copy can be found right above Kyle Prue's picture.2nd CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN COPY! 2 WAYS:1. REPLY TO THIS POST WITH YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL2. E-MAIL ME AT CCHAVOUS68@GMAIL.COM WITH "THE SPARKS" IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND YOUR NAME IN THE BODY OF THE E-MAIL.THE CONTEST ENDS ON FRIDAY 3/6/2015 AND I WILL POST THE WINNER IN MY BLOG BANNER (unless otherwise requested)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

The Vapros, the Taurlum, and the Celerius: three dynasties bound by an ancient promise, and given superhuman abilities to protect the city of Altryon from the dangerous world beyond its walls. Centuries of fighting, however, have turned the families against each other. A powerful emperor now rules and each family has suffered heavy casualties in the feud.Sixteen-year-old, Neil Vapros desperately wants to become an assassin in order to impress his overly critical father. Despite a failed mission, Neil learns that a new sinister threat has awakened. This mysterious new power will shatter the established order and threaten not only the very lives of these powerful families, but also the once great city of Altryon.Everything can change with a single “Spark”
First of all let me tell you a little about the author, Kyle Prue:
Kyle is a 17 year old high school student who had insomnia one night and wrote out the entire plot for this book that night. He was a 15 year old high school sophmore at the time. This too me, personally, is quite impressive. I mean, how many high school seniors, let alone sophmores have this kind of focus and drive?

So, this story is classified as YA/Fantasy. When I am blessed with the chance to read this particular genre, I always ask if my 16 year old son can read them along with me (I love this special bond we have!!! Just a mom-thing!). So my son, Josh, read the book first. I asked him on his second day of reading how it was going. He looked at me and said "I'm finished." I must admit I was shocked, Why? Because those two days were school days. So I asked him what he thought of the book. He quickly answered "I can't wait for the next one!". Very high praise coming from a reader who is Kyle's peer (a high school student and a teen pursuing an acting career).

I became even more excited to read this book written by this young man. The synopsis intrigued me, Kyle's personal story intrigued me, and my son's delight in the book intrigued me even further.
As I cracked open the book and started reading, the first thing that jumped out at me was the depth of character young Mr. Prue reveals. His dedication (which some may generally do not take the time to read when they open a book) shows that Mr. Prue has learned something early in life that a percentage of people go to their graves lacking: the insight and wisdom that those around us and closest to us are what helps us find the person we want to be.
The second thing that struck me was the organizational skills of this young man. Each family is listed with key characters listed under the family surname. This gives the reader an introduction of sorts to the characters. But, each chapter is in a different voice. The transition from voice to voice is flawless and flowing. It is as if you are watching it unfold in real time. The emotion that is imbued into the story is clear and apparent. You're perception and reactions to the plights of the characters will surprise you.
I found myself developing a relationship with each character as well as their family. There were families I was not too fond of, yet understood why they developed the way they did. I found myself pulling for another family, yet wondering if I should feel the way I felt. But mostly I developed a sort of bond with individual characters. This is what a great writer can create: a relationship between his/her world and the reader.
This series, categorized as Young Adult, defies barriers. Don't be fooled by the categorization.
Young Mr. Prue has an extraordinary talent that is rarely seen. I see not only a large following, but numerous literary awards in Mr. Prue's future.

How can you own your own copy of Mr. Prue's awesome book? The first way is to visit his website at http://kyleprue.com/store-2/#!/Autographed-Copy-of-The-Sparks/p/40025918/category=0
use the code: BLOG25 and you will receive 25% off an autographed copy.
The second way is to enter my giveaway. I have generously been awarded 1 copy to give to my readers (US and Canada only). And the third way is to visit Amazon and B&N, but these copies won't be autographed. KYLE PRUE

How did you pick the names of the families?I based the family names on Latin root words: Taurlum is based on the Latin word forbull, Celerius is the Latin word for swift and Vapros is smoke. How did you get the idea for the three families?In the first book, there are three main families and since I have a brother and a sister, Iloosely based these families around the three of us—their mannerisms, their traits,resulting in a black-and-white version of us blended with a more honorable, respectableside and a more aggressive, audacious side. So the Taurlum are based off my brother,

the Celerius off my sister and the Vapros off me, a little bit.

Do you have advice for other high school students wanting to write a book?Yes, never stop writing. Write, and write and write, until you’ve got something that youlike. Don’t be afraid to have a very rough copy of something. The editing process isterrible and long and arduous, but it’s something you have to do. What matters is gettingsomething on paper and then really shaping it into what you are looking for.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Cheyenne McCray, brings you heart-stopping, blood-racing, western romantic suspense with SLOW BURN. In this standalone short contemporary suspense/NOVELLA from the Lawmen series, Trace Davidson is determined to protect Christie Simpson from her ex-husband who has ordered a hit on her from his jail cell. Salvatore Reyes intends to make sure Christie never makes it to the witness stand to testify against him. In the midst of danger, Trace and Christie find love—but first they have to make it out alive.

Slow Burn is Book 3 in Miss McCray's Lawman Series. And as always Miss McCray takes a HOT lawman and a sexy, stubborn woman and creates fireworks!

Slow Burn is Christie and Trace's story, set in Bisbee, AZ, a town that is picturesque and old west-like (but not out of date). Christie is hiding from her ex-husband and his cartel. Jace is the Dept. of Homeland Security agent who had saved her from him over a year ago.

Christie secretly heads back to Bisbee from where the FBI is hiding her to be present at her best friends' baby birth. Christie and Trace are thrown back together and the sparks fly!

Miss McCray has a special love for Southeastern AZ (I share that love). Her detailed writing of the area makes the reader feel like they are sitting right next to the characters feeling the beautiful sun beating down on them. Her literary genius pulls the reader into the story and creates a bubble where they can almost see everything unfold right in front of their eyes.

The heroes Miss McCray creates are men that every woman dreams of finding. They are hot, handsome, caring, protective, smart, and willing to do anything for the woman they love.

If you haven't read any of her Lawman series, jump feet first into Slow Burn and then go get the others. You will be hooked from the first few pages, I promise!!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

After being cheated on yet again, full-figured Alice O’Brien decides that she will leave behind her dreams of Prince Charming. From now on she will be a “love ‘em and leave’ em” kind of girl. However, when she—literally—tumbles down a rabbit hole, she discovers that she has left the familiar chaos of San Francisco behind and stepped into something vastly different. And it is here that she meets the fierce, powerful shapeshifter named Jarronn, who is one of the four irresistible brothers who rule this strange and fascinating land.Jarronn quickly seizes Alice for himself and threatens to introduce her to untold pleasure and to steal her furiously pounding heart. However, Alice soon learns that Jarronn deliberately lured her into his kingdom in order to make her his mate in hopes of averting a dark danger that threatens his people. But can their bond of passion save them?

Taken by Passion is Cheyenne McCray writing as Jaymie Holland. And if you like Cheyenne McCray's writing, you will be just as entranced with her writing as Jaymie Holland. Miss McCray has updated Taken by Passion. If you have already read this story, you will want to read it again. Miss McCray has expanded it by approximately 50 pages!For those who like Cheyenne McCray's work, you will definitely enjoy The Wonderland Series. As you begin reading you will recognize Miss McCray's "voice". Taken by Passion has an intelligent woman who is comfortable with her sexuality and is looking for a man who can fulfill all her "special" desires in the bedroom. And then there is the HOT, SEXY, MUSCLEBOUND, ALPHA male who is looking for a sexy woman to fulfill ALL his needs. But that is where her trademark "voice" ends. This is Miss McCray's version of Alice in Wonderland. Alice is transported to a world where all the men are HOT and all the women are SEXY and scantily-clad. As a matter of fact, what the woman wear is quite thought provoking. Believe me, you don't want to miss this one!Taken by Passion has a HOT factor and PANTY-WETTING factor that is OFF THE CHARTS!Hmmm, I wonder if I can be transported to Wonderland???!